Sale 1244 — The Arthur S. Przybyl Collection of United States, Confederate States and Hawaii
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 9-10 November, 2021
Category — 1869 Pictorial Issue (Scott 112-122)
1c-90c 1869 Pictorial Issue, Plate Proofs on India (112P3-122P3, 120TC3, 129P3). Blocks of four, including both 15c types, also two of the 24c including the scarcer Green & Reddish Lilac shade (120TC3), large margins, few minor flaws as often found on this fragile paperVERY FINE-EXTREMELY FINE. A DESIRABLE SET OF BLOCKS OF THE 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE PLATE PROOFS ON INDIA PAPER, WITH BOTH 15-CENT TYPES AND BOTH 24-CENT COLORS.
Scott value pricing the 120TC3 block the same as the normal 120P3 color (it is listed but unpriced in Scott)
View PDF of contents of this lot
30c Carmine Lake & Dark Ultramarine, Large Die Trial Color Proof on India (121TC1). On 85 x 99mm card with full die sinkage, rich colors, Very Fine and choice example of this scarce Trial Color Large Die Proof, the colors on the example offered here approach those of the issued colors, but are different enough to qualify as a trial color, ex "Lake Shore" and "Vaquero", this color combination unlisted in Scott, Scott value as a listed color
1c Buff (112). Original gum, lightly hinged, rich color on bright paper, Very Fine, with 1993 P.F. certificate
1c Buff (112). Block of four, bottom left stamp Mint N.H., others lightly hinged, radiant color, clear grills, fresh and Fine, Scott value as hinged block
2c Brown (113). Original gum, well-centered with balanced margins, rich color, Very Fine and choice, with 1993 P.S.E. certificate
2c Brown (113). Block of four with part arrow captured at right, original gum, top stamps lightly hinged, bottom pair bit heavily hinged, rich color, Fine-Very Fine, with 2019 P.S.E. certificate
3c Ultramarine, Split Grill (114 var). Block of four with top selvage, top stamps show part grill at bottom, bottom stamps show part grill at top and bottom, original gum, rich color, Fine-Very Fine, Scott value as normal block
6c Ultramarine (115). Original gum, fresh color on bright paper, Fine, with 2002 P.F. certificate
10c Yellow (116). Original gum, lightly hinged, slight oxidation, appears Fine, with 1996 P.F. certificate
12c Green (117). Original gum, rich color, intense shade and impression, Very Fine, ex Hall, with 1991 P.F. certificate
12c Green (117). Block of four, original gum, rich color, well-centered, some rejoined and reinforced vertical perfsVERY FINE. A RARE AND BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 12-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE
There are several original-gum blocks of the 12c 1869 Pictorial, ranging in size from four to nine stamps. Nearly all of the unused blocks are more or less off center. This well-centered block is one of the most attractive of all 12c 1869 multiples.
Ex Hall. With 1998 P.F. certificate.
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. I (118). Unused (no gum), extra wide margins, pretty colors, tiny pinhole in grill not mentioned on accompanying certificate, Very Fine appearance, ex Curtis, with 1996 P.F. certificate
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. II (119). Disturbed original gum, deep rich colors and proof-like impressions, the vignette is shifted to right, Fine
24c Green & Violet (120). Block of four with right sheet selvage, original gum with very slight disturbance from hinge removal (accompanying certificate states "original gum" with no qualifiers), bright colors and very fresh paper, centered to top, few perf separations expertly and sensibly reinforced (not mentioned on certificate)FINE. ONE OF ONLY FIVE RECORDED UNUSED BLOCKS OF THE 24-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL, AND THE ONLY EXAMPLE WITH SHEET SELVAGE. A REMARKABLE SHOWPIECE.
Our records of 24c 1869 unused multiples include a block of nine (off-center), a block of six (Sale 1180, lot 176) and three blocks of four. Two of the blocks of four have perfs that do not touch the design, and at least one of them has faults. The ex Moody and Burrus block needs to be reexamined. It is doubtful that any other blocks exist.
Ex Walske and Wingate, and from our 1965 Rarities sale. With 2002 P.F. certificate
24c Green & Violet (120). Clear strike of "N.York Steamship" circular datestamp, faint diagonal crease at top left, appears Very Fine, an extremely rare cancel on the 24c 1869 Pictorial, with 1981 and 2003 P.F. certificates
30c Ultramarine & Carmine (121). Unused (regummed), wide margins and well-centered, Very Fine and choice
30c Ultramarine & Carmine (121). Rich colors, bold rosette cancel, Very Fine, with 1983 and 2000 P.F. certificates
90c Carmine & Black (122). Large part original gum, wide margins to clear at top, clearly defined grill, few minor gum soaked perf tipsFINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE.
Ex Curtis. With 1974 P.F. certificate
2c Brown, Without Grill (113b). Original gum, rich color, attractive centering and marginsVERY FINE. A RARE SOUND ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE WITHOUT GRILL.
We have offered about a dozen singles, plus a rejoined block of four, since 1993. Most examples of this stamp are significantly off-center, with perfs in on one side.
With 1995 and 2010 P.F. certificates
24c Green & Violet, Without Grill (120a). Large part original gum, deep rich colors and detailed impressions, light horizontal crease at bottomFINE APPEARANCE. AN EXTREMELY RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 24-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE WITHOUT GRILL.
Our informal survey of auction catalogues and the records of The Philatelic Foundation produced approximately 24 copies. Many have part original gum or disturbed original gum, and over half have faults.
Ex Floyd and Wingate. With 1997 P.S.E. and 2018 P.F. certificates
30c Ultramarine & Carmine, Double Paper, Without Grill (121a var). Block of four, original gum, deep rich colorsFINE. A RARE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 30-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE ON DOUBLE PAPER AND WITHOUT GRILL.
Ex "Lake Shore". With 2000 P.F. certificate as No. 121a. Scott value $45,000.00 for No. 121a block of four. The Double Paper/Without Grill is listed but unpriced as a block.
90c Carmine & Black, Without Grill (122a). Original gum, intense colors and proof-like impressions, very freshVERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE WITHOUT GRILL. ONLY 23 EXAMPLES HAVE BEEN CERTIFIED AS GENUINE BY THE PHILATELIC FOUNDATION.
Fewer than 25 examples have been certified by The Philatelic Foundation as genuine. Only sixteen have either part or full original gum and only nine of these original-gum stamps are completely sound.
Ex Hoffman. With 2002 and 2008 P.F. certificates. With 2005 P.S.E. certificate (OG, F 70; unpriced in SMQ)
15c-90c 1869 Pictorial Inverts, Plate Proofs on Card (120aP4, 121aP4, 122aP4, 129aP4). Large margins, deep rich colors on bright cardsEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL AND CHOICE SET OF 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE INVERT PLATE PROOFS. ONLY ONE SHEET OF 100 OF EACH WAS PRODUCED.
The card proof sheets of 100 of the four inverted high values of the 1869 Pictorial issue were prepared for and displayed at the Atlanta International Cotton Exposition in 1881. They were printed in response to the publicity surrounding the actual inverted stamps that began to appear in the 1870s. The sheets were somehow acquired by James A. Petrie of Phillipsburg, New Jersey, at the close of the exposition. Petrie claimed that he rescued the inverts along with the trial color card proof sheets (the Atlanta trial color proofs) just before they were to be burned. For some years he tried to sell his find and in 1895 he began to advertise them in the philatelic press, finding no takers. In 1903 he sold them to James Ludovic Lindsay, the 26th Earl of Crawford, one of the great collectors of stamps, essays, proofs and philatelic literature at the turn of the 20th century. In November 1915 the Earl of Crawford's collection was purchased by John A. Klemann of the Nassau Stamp Company in New York. It was Klemann who eventually cut up the sheets.